Puerto Rico jumps in international ranking of association meetings

The 2011 ICCA country rankings show that the number of association meetings taking place in Puerto Rico have increased from 9 meetings in 2010 to 30 in 2011.

ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association) is reporting another year of continued global strength in the international association meetings market. 

For the first time ever, more than 10,000 regularly occurring association events which rotate between at least three countries were identified by ICCA members and ICCA’s in-house research team as having taken place during 2011, over 800 more than identified a year previously.

The far above average increase in the number of international association meetings taking place in Puerto Rico results in a jump in the worldwide rankings measured by number of international association meetings per country from 77th place in 2010 to 56th in 2011, and in the regional North- and Latin American rankings from 18th to 12th position.

The 2012 ICCA Congress will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 20-24 October and will bring more than 750 delegates to the island to experience the destination as a world-class meeting destination. Winning the 2012 ICCA Congress bid in 2009 has helped Puerto Rico raise its profile amongst international meeting planners playing a key role in the destination’s current success in this market.  

“ICCA attendees have the influence to bring large international association groups to Puerto Rico that will fill our Center and hotels as well as our restaurants, shops and casinos.  Since signing the ICCA Congress to be hosted in Puerto Rico next October, we have been the site host of several high profile congresses and conventions that have helped us achieve the current 56th position worldwide in the 2011 ICCA country ranking," stated Neil J.Mullanaphy, acting president & CEO, Senior Vice President Sales, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau.

“Puerto Rico’s hosting of the 51st Annual ICCA Congress is an opportunity for the Island to show the convention world what we’re made of, what we offer, and the benefits of hosting a large international delegation on our soil. It’s critical that we provide delegates with an outstanding experience so that conventioneers depart Puerto Rico with a positive perception of all we have to offer. We’re eager to showcase all that Puerto Rico has to offer to the international market,” concluded Mullanaphy.

ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association, represents the main specialists in organising, transporting and accommodating international meetings and events, and comprises over 900 member companies and organisations in 87 countries worldwide.

- ENDS 

For more information about the 51st ICCA Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico please visit: http://www.iccaworld.com/dbs/congress2012

Picture caption: "Mr. Neil J.Mullanaphy, acting president & CEO, Senior Vice President Sales of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau". Please download a high res picture for Mr. Neil Mullanaphy from our website: http://www.iccaworld.com/cnt/files/PR/Neil%20Mullanaphy,%20CHME.jpg

Please find a press release on the 2011 ICCA country and city rankings on the ICCA website: “ICCA 2011 statistics: international association sector is resilient and showing healthy growth":
http://www.iccaworld.com/npps/story.cfm?nppage=2931

The full ICCA statistics report will only be available to ICCA members. Comprehensive rankings for all countries and cities and analysis of ten-year trends will be released to non-ICCA members and the media early July.

Please note that the ICCA database is not designed to include all association meetings taking place worldwide, it is a sales and marketing resource which allows our members to search for association meetings that are likely to come to their destination. This is why all association meetings in the ICCA Association Database must:

a) rotate between at least 3 countries
b) attract at least 50 participants
c) be held with a certain frequency (we do not register ad hoc meetings)

For more information about Puerto Rico please contact:

Teresa Martínez
Director of Marketing & Communications

Puerto Rico Convention Bureau
Edificio Ochoa, 500 Tanca Suite 402 
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901-1942 

T. 787.474.5091
F. 787.474.5046 
W. http://www.meetpuertorico.com